Debriefing
» Fifth terrorist gunned down, as operation ends
» Enemies of humanity attacked us in Pathankot but we did not let them succeed, proud of our Jawans and security forces: PM Narendra Modi
» I congratulate our armed forces and other security forces on successfully neutralising all the five terrorists in Pathankot Operation: HM Rajnath Singh
» The nation is proud of its brave security forces who have always rose to the occasion. I salute our forces on successful operation in Pathankot: Rajnath
» 3 soldiers martyred and 5 terrorists killed in the gun battle
» Two attack helicopters pressed into service. Helicopters, NSG commandos and SWAT teams deployed
» Attack, a week after Modi's visit to Pakistan
» In a statement issued in Islamabad, Pakistan extended heartfelt condolences to the govt and people of India Read more
» Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar held high-level meet with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and three service chiefs
» The terrorists were detected by aerial surveillance platforms as soon as they entered the Air Force base, says IAF
» NIA to probe the attack
» Punjab was on high alert after suspected Pakistani terrorists abducted and thrashed a Superintendent of Police and his two associates on Friday
» Militants are believed to be from the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group.
» 5 suspected Pak terrorists stormed the base in army uniforms
Story in detail
Pathankot, Punjab: In a pre-dawn attack, a group of heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists, suspected to belong to Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit, struck at an Air Force base here in Punjab, leading to a fierce gunbattle in which three security personnel were killed along with five attackers.
The terrorists, who struck just a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unscheduled visit to Lahore, could not, however, penetrate the defence cordon at the Air base which is located close to the border with Pakistan as they met with effective response from the security forces, police and security officials said.
The attack by terrorists, suspected to belong to JeM outfit, took place at around 3.30 am and three security personnel, including a Garud commando of the IAF, were killed in it, defence sources said, adding four terrorists were also killed by the security forces within five hours.
But, more terrorists were suspected to be still on the loose as gunshots were heard during the subsequent combing up operation, defence sources said.
IAF has pressed into service two attack helicopters which are targeting the areas from where the firing is believed to be coming from, the sources said. The security forces have deployed drones to get the exact location of the terrorists.
Aerial firing at Pathankot Airbase by IAF chopper. (visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/NqRqq64HZE
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 2, 2016The terrorists, with huge quantity of RDX in their possession, made their way to the base from the back side where there is a jungle, they said
But they could not go beyond the 'langar' (eating place) near the outer perimeter of the IAF complex as the security forces were ready to take them on, the sources said, about the operation which was supervised directly by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
The attack was launched soon after a combing operation was carried out by the army on Friday in the area between Air baseinstallation and Chakki river,police said.
The attackers were met with strong resistance from the security personnel who were already alert to the possibility of an attack, top sources said in Delhi, adding that the terrorists therefore could not enter the air base and managed to reach only to the langer area on the outside.
High alert was sounded on Pathankot-Jammu national highway on Saturday after terror attack in neighbouring Punjab. The
A week after Modi's visit to Pak
The attack comes just a week after Prime Minister Modi made an unscheduled visit to Pakistan and met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
It is the second big terror attack in Punjab within less than a year as last year three militants stormed a police station in Dina Nagar before being eliminated after a 12-hour gun battle.
In view of the attack, Punjab had been put on maximum alert while security measures were also tightened in neighbouring Haryana and common capital of the two states - Chandigarh, official sources said.
Security was also tightened on the Pathankot-Jammu National Highway.
As the news of the terror attack spread, it triggered panic among the local residents.
"I was sleeping when a neighbour rushed to my home early this morning and informed me about the attack. I could not believe that terrorists had struck for the second time as the area had seen an attack recently," said Gursharan Singh, a resident of Pathankot.
Ominous signs - Punjab was already on high alert
Security establishment was already on alert and anticipating an attack after an SP of Punjab police was abducted by a group of armed men in army uniform on Thursday night. The attackers thrashed the officer before dumping him from vehicle.
After the incident, the combing operation was launched in the border areas of Pathankot and Gurdaspur district.
The attackers are confined to non-operational area, police said.
Helicopters, NSG commandos and SWAT teams have been engaged to kill the militants, police said.
(with agency inputs)
Disclaimer
The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Manorama. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.